Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling — Community Chaplaincy

What Will You Study in Our M.A. in Pastoral Counseling Degree?

• Chaplain ethics for advisement and pastoral care in diverse settings
• Challenges and solutions in community-based chaplaincy
• Community chaplaincy in varied ministry environments
• Ethical challenges faced by chaplains and those they serve
• Introduction to chaplaincy ministry and the influence of culture on ministry practices
• Theological and cultural issues shaping chaplaincy work

The pastoral counseling master’s degree courses integrate faith-based lesson plans so that you can learn in-demand skills while you study on your schedule. These distance learning classes are designed to accommodate you. The flexible 8-week format allows you to complete your courses without disrupting your current lifestyle.

Each of your distance learning classes will be taught by a professor with experience in the field. They will be able to guide you through their own experiences and provide insight that can’t be found in a textbook. Your pastoral counseling master’s degree with a focus in community chaplaincy can help you prepare to pursue opportunities to serve in a variety of communities and environments.

Potential Careers for Pastoral Counseling Graduates

• Hospital counselor
• Military chaplain
• Non-licensed counselor
• Prison chaplain

Please note: Some roles may require additional training or qualifications.

Highlights of Our M.A. in Pastoral Counseling Program

As a leader in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create a flexible and affordable education for busy people. Since we have been investing in distance and online learning for decades, our experience has taught us how to streamline our degree options so you can focus on what really matters to you. While many schools offer online degrees, we believe Liberty stands out.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026 – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
• Your ministry matters – so when you take 9-15 credit hours per semester in your divinity program, you’ll pay a discounted block rate of $2,850. It’s our way of supporting all you do to serve others.
• Most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors. As a nonprofit university, Liberty continues to strive to keep costs low for our students!
• You can learn to integrate theological insight with psychological understanding to deliver ethical, biblically grounded counseling in community chaplaincy settings.
• You can gain the ability to serve in diverse ministry roles, applying pastoral care and counseling strategies across a variety of community environments.

Military Benefits

Service is important to us, so whether you’re currently serving in the Armed Forces, have served, or are married to someone who serves, we’re here to serve you. Liberty’s military benefits are available to:

• Active duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Reserve/National Guard
• Veterans/retirees
• Spouses of service members and veterans/retirees
• Current Department of Defense employees

We are proud to support you in your pursuit of a flexible and affordable online education by offering you the following benefits:

• Tuition discounts – $290 per credit hour for graduate courses
• Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder
• Discounted divinity block rate: $2,575 per semester – only $172/credit at 9-15 credit hours*
• 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Credits taken below 9 and above 15 credit hours for the online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling are charged at the part-time rate.